Lahiri, Sharma and Cheema fall at Final Qualifying for The Open

For a second year running, Anirban Lahiri missed out on qualifying for The Open by the narrowest of mergins. Image courtesy LIV Golf.

By Rahul Banerji

Anirban Lahiri fell agonisingly short in his bid to qualify for the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush, ending just outside the top five at the Burnham and Berrow tournament on Tuesday.

The Crushers GC and India star birdied his final three holes on the par-71 course to finish on 36-hole total of 5 under par 137 (68-69), a shot behind fifth-placed Englishman O.J. Farrell.

It was the second year in a row that the 38-year-old, who celebrated his birthday over the weekend, missed out on an Open Championship berth by such a narrow margin. 

On the par-72 West Lancashire course Final Qualifying event, Shubhankar Sharma (71-70) tied for 17th place on 3 under 141 while recent PGTI winner Angad Cheema (73-73) was further down the order.

Lucas Herbert of the all-Australian Rippers GC outfit topped the event as did fellow LIV Golf members Lee Westwood at the Dundonald Links, and Dean Burmester at Royal Cinque Ports.

In all, 14 from the LIV Golf roster were in action on Monday and Tuesday seeking berth at Royal Portrush for which Joaquin Neimann, Bryson deChambeau, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia and 11 others were already exempt.

Missing names

Besides Lahiti, prominent names to miss out included Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, David Puig, Indo-Brit Jack Singh Brar, Peter Uihlein and Harold Varner III.

Ten of the 13 LIV Golf teams will be represented at The Open, with Legion XIII and Ripper having three players each.

At the Dundonald Links, Majesticks co-captain Lee Westwood was the top finisher with round of 70 and 67 to earn medal honours ahead of four others on a 7 under par total of 137 after finding some recent form at LIV events.

Westwood last played The Open in 2022 but has a strong history in the championship, including a T4 at Portrush in 2019, livgolf.com said.

“Royal Portrush is a fantastic golf course, and I played well there last time. I finished fourth in 2019,” Westwood said. 

“The Open Championship is the greatest tournament on the golfing calendar … I hit some nice shots coming down the stretch there. I think 7 under is pretty good.”

Convincing margin

At West Lancashire, Herbert earned medal honours with scores of 69 and 67 to total 8 under 136. “I love The Open,” Herbert had said in Dallas last week. 

“… I played three or four of them now and love, love my opportunities when I have gotten them to play it. So, yeah, if I can get another one, that’d be great.

“I feel like my game is trending in the right way as well. So, if I can play well enough this week or on Tuesday to be able to get in, then my game’s probably in a good enough spot to be able to go and contend.”

At Royal Cinque Ports, Burmester of the all-South African Stinger GC came through with cards of 70 and 64 to top the field by four strokes. 

“That’s one of the best rounds of golf I’ve played,” Burmester said on the website about his 64. 

“It was just flawless from the get-go this afternoon. … Basically from the first hole it looked like every putt was going to go in, and that’s pretty much what happened for the next 17 holes.

“I’m super chuffed with the way it’s turned out. It was a goal of mine to get to Portrush. Now I’ve got to find some accommodation!”

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